Karen Fults Kaler was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville as an art major in both undergraduate and graduate school. She holds a B.F.A. in communication design.

The Kalers met during the summer of 1979 in Tennessee, where Eric had come to do summer research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. They married December 30, 1979, in Nashville.

Karen worked as a graphic designer in the Twin Cities as Eric pursued his Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota. In 1982, the Kalers moved to Seattle where Karen again worked as a graphic designer, including designing catalogs for Eddie Bauer. The Kalers' two sons were born in Seattle: Charlie in 1986, and Sam in 1988.

In 1989, the Kalers moved to Delaware, where Karen founded a design firm working primarily with nonprofits and social service agencies.

Karen has performed extensive volunteer work, which has included service with New Ark United Housing Ministries; with the University of Delaware Women's Club; as an Odyssey of the Mind coach, board member, and tournament director; as a PTA (Parent Teacher Association) president; as a youth sports league board member; as the leader of a high school sportsmanship initiative, and much more.

They moved to Long Island in 2007, where her volunteer work included creating opportunities for student art displays at Stony Brook University, fundraising for the Stony Brook Tanzanian Children's Fund, and working to find sponsors for children in Tanzanian leprosy colonies.

Her interests include travel, reading, and art.
 

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